Jeff Garcia cut

[VegasDave]

With a shaky O-Line, a shaky WR core, a flat out awful D-Line, is this a playoff team? No.

Seymour is one way to address the flat out awful D-Line

[R3Sports]

I think he ends up in New England, or maybe even San Fran again.

[Chi_archie]

I don't know why I ever try and enlighten people on the Raiders as no one ever listens, but at least I know Archie will hear me out.

As a Raider fan, I am 100% thrilled by this move. I knew that everyone would chalk this up as a "stupid Raider move", but it is very, very smart.

Bruce Gradkowski had a fantastic preseason. 18/31 (58%), 280 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT.

First of all, Jamarcus Russell isn't nearly as bad as all these people that have never seen him play make him out to be. He has a lot of potential to be very good. If he doesn't improve at all, yeah, he's a bust. But how can one decent rookie season on a terrible team dictate that he is a bust? It never made any sense to me how much hate this guy gets.

Anyway, lets say he does struggle so badly that he needs to be replaced, and the Raiders plugged in Jeff Garcia. Where does the team go now? With a shaky O-Line, a shaky WR core, a flat out awful D-Line, is this a playoff team? No.

BEST CASE SCENARIO, Garcia does well and stays healthy, where is the future in this? What answer do the Raiders have for the next 3-5 years at the QB position? None. Now, they don't know what they have in Jamarcus, and they've essentially wasted valuable experience on a guy that already has a ton of it.

Now, same situation, Russell struggles so terribly he needs to be taken out. Gradkowski comes in and does an excellent job. NOW, you have a 26 year old QB, and if he has what it takes, you might have your guy for the next 3-5 years, even if it isn't Russell.

You guys don't seem to realize that you can't turn a team around magically by throwing in a bunch of over the hill veterans. You need to let the kids play, so it will tell you one of two things; either they have what it takes, or it doesn't and you need to get something else. Jeff Garcia leading the Raiders to a 5-11 season tells us NOTHING about the most important position on the field. Do we need to draft someone? Sign someone? We have no idea, because we have this about-to-be-retired guy in.

This was a GREAT decision by the Raiders and I couldn't be happier right now. On another team, Garcia makes a TON of sense as a backup/insurance policy. Here, he was only going to create controversy and take valuable playing time away from players that might grow from it.

good explanation

[R3Sports]

Nicely done Dave, very nice.

[soli]

The Raiders will have a decent season. I look for an 8-8 season with the following year making the playoffs

[R3Sports]

The Raiders will have a decent season. I look for an 8-8 season with the following year making the playoffs

8-8? You think, eh that might be stretching it a little bit.

6 or 7 wins might be more reasonable.

[VegasDave]

A quick glance at the schedule with my take on it...

San Diego Chargers
@Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos
at Houston Texans
at New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
New York Jets
at San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
at Dallas Cowboys
at Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Redskins
at Denver Broncos
at Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens

Blue = Division games. With as bad as the Chiefs and Broncos look, I think 3-3 on the year is a reasonable division prediction. Give or take a game, but thats about what I'm expecting.

Orange = Winnable games. Let's say the Raiders take 2 of them, which brings us to 5-4

Red = Losses. Period. 5-6.

The rest are games that the Raiders should lose, but in the NFL, you never know, things don't always go exactly as they should. Raiders take 1 and end up at 6-10 this year.

BEST CASE SCENARIO:

Division = 4-2; upset San Diego, sweep KC or Denver, split with the other.
Winnable = 3-0; beat Cinci, NYJ, and Cleveland
Losses = 0-2; lose @NYG, @PIT
Rest = 2-3; grab two wins in the bunch, say Houston and Washington.

That's a 9-7 record and a very good shot at winning this pathetic division with that record.

But I WON'T be holding my breath on that scenario

[Madukwe]

A quick glance at the schedule with my take on it...

San Diego Chargers
@Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos
at Houston Texans
at New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
New York Jets
at San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
at Dallas Cowboys
at Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Redskins
at Denver Broncos
at Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens

Blue = Division games. With as bad as the Chiefs and Broncos look, I think 3-3 on the year is a reasonable division prediction. Give or take a game, but thats about what I'm expecting.

Orange = Winnable games. Let's say the Raiders take 2 of them, which brings us to 5-4

Red = Losses. Period. 5-6.

The rest are games that the Raiders should lose, but in the NFL, you never know, things don't always go exactly as they should. Raiders take 1 and end up at 6-10 this year.

BEST CASE SCENARIO:

Division = 4-2; upset San Diego, sweep KC or Denver, split with the other.
Winnable = 3-0; beat Cinci, NYJ, and Cleveland
Losses = 0-2; lose @NYG, @PIT
Rest = 2-3; grab two wins in the bunch, say Houston and Washington.

That's a 9-7 record and a very good shot at winning this pathetic division with that record.

But I WON'T be holding my breath on that scenario

Very nice work Dave. I just hope I can beat you in the NCAA picks next week lol, had a terrible opening weekend

[R3Sports]

You think they can handle the Jets, but not Washington?

[Rich Boy]

Another Faider fan trying to be optimistic before the start of the season, but in the back of his mind knowing he's in for another 4-12 type season...

I dont know what to say other than FIND A NEW TEAM!!!

[brooks85]

Bengals 42 Raiders 3

[R3Sports]

Bengals 42 Raiders 3

[Madukwe]

Bengals 42 Raiders 3

I like it

[VegasDave]

Another Faider fan trying to be optimistic before the start of the season, but in the back of his mind knowing he's in for another 4-12 type season...

I dont know what to say other than FIND A NEW TEAM!!!

I spelled out how it was realistic that they might get to 6 wins. How is that being "optimistic"?

Of course another 3-4 win season is possible. But please point out what part of my assessment you disagreed with. Do you think 3 wins against awful Chiefs and Broncos is unreasonable? A win over a Jets team traveling across the country and the Browns? ONE upset win?

[daggerkobe]

Dave, I like u not just because ur a fellow Raiders fanatic but also seem like a decent dude. But you are WRONG as usual!!!!!!!! Just like when u predicted they would go 8-8 last season.... I believe I was closer with that prediction at 4-12.

If the answer is DuMarcus Russell then the question must've been name another QB bust the Raiders drafted in the 1st rd..... to go along with Todd Marinovich and Marc Wilson. You seem to think he had a good season last year, his 2nd full season in the league but it was worse than Joey Harrington's 2nd full season and even Matt Leinart's rookie season. And both are widely considered busts.

Cutting Garcia was a typical Al Davis move. He is willing to go 4-12 again just to prove that he made the correct move drafting DuMarcus #1 overall. Just like when he got rid of Marcus Allen for no reason other than to prove a point, what point that was I have no idea to this day.

You also dont know much about the Raiders history if u think signing old guys dont help them. Raiders signed a "washed up" Jim Plunkett and he led them to 2 Super Bowl victories. They also signed a "washed up" Rich Gannon who led them tothe Super Bowl. Raiders history is full of "washed up" guys they signed that helped them win.

Signing Garcia was an excellent decision. With him at the helm the Raiders wouldve won 9 games or more and possibly won a playoff spot. But again Mr Davis would rather sacrifice wins just to try and prove that he didnt fuk up when he drafted DuMarcus #1 overall. Had Garcia not been cut he would've be starting by week 6 after fans uproar demanding they start him after another dismal start.

Mark my words...... Raiders will never return to the playoffs with DuMarcus at the helm.

[VegasDave]

More than happy to agree to disagree on Jamarcus Russell. I've never said he was going to be a star QB. All I said was that he deserves more than one season on a terrible team to make any decisions on him.

Also, when you call him DuMarcus, it's a little harder for me to believe you are being unbiased and fair in your assessment of him.

[Marigold HD]

Raiders 5-11 this year...........Remember this.

[VegasDave]

Raiders 5-11 this year...........Remember this.

Very very good prediction .

I'd put it at something like...

2-14: 1%
3-13: 9%
4-12: 15%
5-11: 30%
6-10: 25%
7-9: 12%
8-8: 5%
9-7: 3%

[Madukwe]

Very very good prediction .

I'd put it at something like...

2-14: 1%
3-13: 9%
4-12: 15%
5-11: 30%
6-10: 25%
7-9: 12%
8-8: 5%
9-7: 3%

Dave,

You seem to really know your stuff and I enjoy following your predictions. I was just curious.... What do you think of the Bengals' chances this year? Have any predictions on theirs schedule/outcomes/record?

I'm a diehard Bengals fan and was kinda curious as to your thoughts. Would be something interesting for me to look at this season. Thanks!

[VegasDave]

Dave,

You seem to really know your stuff and I enjoy following your predictions. I was just curious.... What do you think of the Bengals' chances this year? Have any predictions on theirs schedule/outcomes/record?

I'm a diehard Bengals fan and was kinda curious as to your thoughts. Would be something interesting for me to look at this season. Thanks!

Thanks Madukwe

Interestingly enough, they (along with the Raiders) were one of the three team's I highlighted in my post-draft piece NFL Draft Review: Bad Teams That Might Get Better

The excerpt on the Bengals;

"Cincinnati Bengals, 4-11-1 moneyline, 7-9 ATS

This team fought a lot harder then their record would indicate last season, but they just didn’t have the talent to keep up with most teams. A healthy Carson Palmer is the key to any success that the Bengals may have next season; and they wisely passed on Michael Crabtree and made the right choice in drafting OT Andre Smith in the first round, taking a step towards protecting their most prized asset.

Acquisitions of LB Ray Maualuga and DE Michael Johnson should make an impact immediately. Both are extremely quick and have an uncanny ability to get to the opposing team’s quarterback. Both of these guys should force plenty of mistakes, and with the drafting of punter Kevin Huber planting team’s deep in their own zone, they will get plenty of chances.

TE Chase Coffman would have been drafted higher had he not had a foot injury, and he has great hands and size at the position. He should also prove to be a valuable weapon to Carson Palmer.

All and all, it was very quietly a solid draft by the Bengals. They used their first pick to get a guy to protect Palmer, and their second and third pick to add some speed and killer instinct to the defense. Coach Marvin Lewis should have fun with these guys, and the Bengals could very easily take a big step back towards respectability this season, and you can make money on it while everyone else is worried about what will be printed on the back of Chad Johnson’s jersey."

They are such a boom-or-bust team that it is really hard to say. I'm looking for a 7 or 8 win season out of them this year, give or take two wins

[Madukwe]

Thanks Madukwe Interestingly enough, they (along with the Raiders) were one of the three team's I highlighted in my post-draft piece NFL Draft Review: Bad Teams That Might Get Better The excerpt on the Bengals; "Cincinnati Bengals, 4-11-1 moneyline, 7-9 ATS This team fought a lot harder then their record would indicate last season, but they just didn’t have the talent to keep up with most teams. A healthy Carson Palmer is the key to any success that the Bengals may have next season; and they wisely passed on Michael Crabtree and made the right choice in drafting OT Andre Smith in the first round, taking a step towards protecting their most prized asset. Acquisitions of LB Ray Maualuga and DE Michael Johnson should make an impact immediately. Both are extremely quick and have an uncanny ability to get to the opposing team’s quarterback. Both of these guys should force plenty of mistakes, and with the drafting of punter Kevin Huber planting team’s deep in their own zone, they will get plenty of chances. TE Chase Coffman would have been drafted higher had he not had a foot injury, and he has great hands and size at the position. He should also prove to be a valuable weapon to Carson Palmer. All and all, it was very quietly a solid draft by the Bengals. They used their first pick to get a guy to protect Palmer, and their second and third pick to add some speed and killer instinct to the defense. Coach Marvin Lewis should have fun with these guys, and the Bengals could very easily take a big step back towards respectability this season, and you can make money on it while everyone else is worried about what will be printed on the back of Chad Johnson’s jersey." They are such a boom-or-bust team that it is really hard to say. I'm looking for a 7 or 8 win season out of them this year, give or take two wins

Thanks Dave!

Yeah, I could see anywhere between 6-10 wins this season. I love our defensive improvements and expect the young and quick Bengals D to be in the top 12 in this season. As for the offense, it could be strong but that all depends on our newly-configured offensive line (with or without a healthy andre smith) and the health of Carson.

[Madukwe]

looks like a second chance in philly

[philswin]

Garcia will probably start week 3 - Kolb sux - Mcnabb will be back week 5 after the bye in week 4

[UNCGQ]

Too bad Carolina is too &*(%^*( stubborn to sign him and admit their mistake in re-upping Jake.

face : palm

[4TH AND STUPID]

anybody know where Jeff Garcia is?

[4TH AND STUPID]

i wonder what in the world it would take for carolina to sign this guy ... imagine carolina with garcia..